On September 8-9, Tussey Mountain will host the inaugural Hardcore Mudd Run. Mud runs are a craze sweeping the nation and the Hardcore Mudd Run is the first mud run to take place in Happy Valley.

The organization is based out of State College and was founded in 2011 by Gideon Schwartz and Rich Olsen - firefighters in the region by day.

Hardcore Mudd Run is different from other mud runs in the sense that it’s not about who crosses the finish line first, but rather who you cross it with. The event encourages team building and bonding, something Olsen and Schwartz know a little bit about as firefighters. For those looking for the ultimate test to push oneself to the limit, this event is for you. There will be up to 40 obstacles along the 6.5-mile course that goes up, down and across Tussey Mountain. Some of the obstacles require more than plain skill - they demand teamwork. In fact, according to the run’s website, obstacles “are designed to promote skill building, camaraderie, physical fitness, social communication and mental stamina.”

One such obstacle is a 12-foot wall that participants will need to scale. Other obstacles may include:

75 yards of chain-link fence lying flat on the ground that will require participants to crawl under all the way to the other side.

The “Boulder Dash” that will make participants run through a field of boulders.

The “Sugar Cookie,” a pool of muddy water followed by a sand pit.

“Landslide” a 200-foot long slip n’ slide that leads right into a puddle of mud.

If you don’t think you have what it takes, take a moment and reconsider. Not only is it a terrific way to challenge yourself, but the run is donating a portion of the proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network. After all, how many chances will you have to say you climbed a mountain?

Registration for the Hardcore Mudd Run is still open and costs $135 for individuals and those registering as a team.